Remote controlled headbox slice



Aug. 26, 1969 D. R. CURTIS 0 REMOTE CONTROLLED HEADBOXSLIGE Filed Sept. 26, 1966 1 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 61 m2: M wmw "i'pmwp @kk WWJ Aug. 26,1969

Filed Sept. 26, 1966 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent US. Cl. 162-647 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A remotely controlled headbox slice for a Fourdrinier headbox having a plurality of independently adjustable and selectively operable micro-rods supporting the top lip of said slice and having position sensors adjacent the micro-rods to indicate to the operator the relative posi: tion of said rods.

This invention relates generally to slice controls for papermaking machinery. More specifically, this invention relates to a remote controlled, mechanical, micro-rod drive system for the top lip of a headbox slice on a Fourdrinier papermaking machine.

The ability to adjust and accurately control the head box slice on a Fourdrinier papermaking machine is of great significance to the successful operation of the machine. The slice must not only be capable of operating at various positions of adjustment to vary the wet web thickness, but the precise contour of the slice top lip must be subject to fine adjustment during operation to keep the flow smooth, uniform and free from eddies. Thus, the slice not only controls the thickness of the paper product, butjthe fine adjustments serve to assure a closer control of paper quality.

In the more conventional Fourdrinier machines, the slice is controlled by providing an adjustable top lip which may be raised or lowered by appropriate adjustment of a plurality of micro-rods spaced across the width of the headbox. That is, the free end of the top lip is suspended by a plurality of uniformly spaced micro-rods each provided with an individual hand wheel which may be turned to raise or lower each individual micro-rod to elfect fine adjustment of the top lip. A means is usually provided whereby all micro-rods may be activated in unison for major adjustments. In order to make fine adjustments, the machine operator must climb up on the machine over the slice and adjust each rod individually by turning the hand wheel therefor.

This invention is predicated upon my development of a mechanically driven top lip of a headbox slice wherein any combination of micro-rods can be driven remotely by a single motor. Specifically, this invention provides for a plurality of gears slidably keyed onto a single motor driven shaft disposed transverse to the micro-rods, with each gear selectively capable of actuating one microrod upon rotation of the shaft. Position sensors may also be associated with each micro-rod to provide the operator with information as to the relative position of each micro-rod.

It is a primary object of this invention therefore, to provide a simple remotely controlled headbox slice for a Fourdrinier papermaking machine.

It is another primary object of this invention to provide a headbox slice for a Fourdrinier machine wherein the top lip is remotely controlled by a single motor through the selective coaction of motor driven gears on a plurality of micro-rods spaced along the forward edge of the top lip.

It is a further primary object of this invention to provide a remote control for a headbox slice top lip wherein the remote operation is facilitated by position sensors which remotely indicate the relative position of the top lip micro-rods.

These and other objects and advantages are fulfilled by this invention as will become apparent from the following detailed description especially when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a partial front elevation of the top lip, microrods, and micro-rod control mechanism illustrating one embodiment of this invention, wherein the extreme left micro-rod drive mechanism is shown in cross section; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, wherein the headbox slice portion is shown in cross section.

Since the Fourdrinier machine is old and well known in the art, the drawings are limited to only those features that are necessary for a complete understanding of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, the headbox slice according to one embodiment of this invention comprises a bot tom slice lip 10 and a top slice lip 11 relatively spaced to provide the horizontal slice opening 12 which is disposed immediately above and parallel to the breast roll 13 and wire 14. As in most conventional Fourdrinier machines, the bottom lip 10 is a fixed apron extension of the lower headbox wall. The back side of the top lip 11 is hinged to the headbox wall 15 by any means such as hinge pin 16, while the forward edge is suspended from a plurality of micro-rods 17 pivotally secured thereto by brackets 18 and pins 19.

As in some of the more conventional Fourdrinier machines, a horizontally disposed, cylindrical, rotatable nozzle beam 20 serves, in part, to indirectly support the upper ends of the micro-rods 17. Specifically, the nozzle beam 20 is secured horizontally to the headbox wall 15 by any means such as a plurality of supports 21 and bolts 22 (FIG. 2). A plurality of nozzle beam brackets 23, each having an arm 24 extending therefrom, are secured to the nozzle beam 20* to rotatably support a cross-shaft 25 parallel to and forward of the nozzle beam 20. The cross-shaft 25 is rotatably fitted within bearings 26 through arms 24. A pivot pin 27 is yoked about each arm 24 on bracket 23 and therefore hangs pivotally suspended from cross-shaft 25. A miter gear 30, having a tubular extension 31, is rotatably fitted over the cylindrical lower portion of each pivot pin 27, and hangs suspended therefrom securing the threaded upper end of a micro-rod 17, maintaining the micro-rod in a substantially vertical position.

Although the detail of the miter gear linkage is not critical to this invention, it may be noted that in the embodiment shown, the base of each pivot pin 27 is drilled and tapped to receive a bolt 32 which secures a washer 33 against the base of the pivot pin 27. The washer 33 accordingly provides a lip to support the flanged bushings 34 and 35 onto the cylindrical lower portion of each pivot pin 27. The miter gear 30 is therefore rotatably secured to the pivot pin 27 by the flanged bushings 34 and 35.

A tubular screw nut 38 is secured within the tubular extension 31 on miter gear 30 and rigidly secured by any means such as pin 39 (FIG. 2). The upper end of each micro-rod 17 is threaded into the tubular screw nut 38. Therefore, rotation of any miter gear 30' will cause the associated micro-rod 17 to be pulled up or down, depending upon direction of rotation, by the screw action of tubular screw nut 38.

An energizer 40, such as a solenoid or air cylinder, is rigidly secured to each arm 24 on each nozzle beam bracket 23 so that the reciprocating shaft 41 is parallel to the cross-shaft 25. A shifting fork collar 42 is bolted to the outer tip of the reciprocating shaft 41. The fork portion of the shifting fork collar 42 engages a second miter gear 45 having a flange 46 which is slidably keyed onto the cross-shaft 25 adjacent to each pivot pin 27. As shown, each key comprises a pin 43 passing diametrically through the cross-shaft 25 which slidably engages grooves 44 on the back side of a miter gear 45. Each second miter gear 45 may or may not be in meshing engagement with the associated first miter gear 30 depending upon the action of the energizer 40. That is to say, a pulling action of the energizer 40 on the reciprocating shaft 41 will pull the shifting fork collar 42 and second miter gear 45 into a meshing engagement with the first miter gear 30. Conversely, the two miter gears 30 and 45 will not be in a meshing engagement upon a pushing action of the energizer 40.

A low speed motor 50, coupled to a low r.p.m. gear box 51, is rigidly secured to a motor stand 52 which is in turn rigidly secured to the upper side of nozzle beam 20. A pair of pulleys 53 and 54 are respectively secured and relatively aligned on the gear box drive shaft 55 and the cross-shaft 25. A belt 56 is then provided to interconnect the two pulleys 53 and 54 so that the motor may be activated to rotate the cross-shaft 25 and therefore the second miter gears 45 keyed thereto.

Since the above described equipment will permit remote control of the headbox slice top lip, it is also desirable to provide a position indicator for each microrod so that the relative position of each micro-rod can be read at the remote position where the slice is controlled. This can be done by providing a position sensing coil or transformer 60 concentrically about a magnetic sleeve 64 tightly secured to each micro-rod 17. As shown, the transformer 60 is encased within a housing 65 which is secured to a bracket 61 which hangs suspended from the cross-shaft 25. The transformer housings 65 are provided with bushings 62 which will permit the micro-rods 17 to freely slide therewithin. Since such position sensors are well known, they will not be further detailed here.

As in more conventional Fourdrinier machines, the nozzle beam 20 is rotatable so that major adjustments may be made. Rotation of the nozzle beam 20 will cause the entire micro-rod and micro-rod drive assembly to be pivoted about the axis of the nozzle beam 20 thus activating all micro-rods in unison.

At a remote control panel (not shown) the entire mechanism described above can be controlled. This control panel should have individual means for activating each energizer 40 in either direction, and mean for activating the motor 50 and gear box 51 in either direction. If position sensors are provided, the control panel will also be provided with signal means for indicating the relative position of each micro-rod 17 as relayed by the transformer 60.

In operation then, the top lip 11 of the headbox slice can be controlled remotely. If the operator desires to raise any of the micro-rods 17, he can activate the appropriate energizers 40gto bring theselected miter gears 30 and 45 into a meshing engagement. The motor is then activated to raise these micro-rods 17 to the desired position. To lower selected micro-rods 17, the same procedure is followed, except that the gearbox 51 is set so that it will rotate the cross-shaft 25 in the reverse direction.

To make major adjustments in the top lip 10 without changing the contour thereof, nozzle beam 20 may be rotated to lift or lower all micro-rods in unison. Thus, the entire drive and cross-shaft assembly is pivoted about the axis of the nozzle beam 20.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A remotely controlled headbox slice for a Fourdrinier papermaking machine comprising a top slice lip pivotally secured to said headbox and relatively spaced above a bottom slice lip to form therebetween a horizontal slice opening from said headbox, a plurality of rotatable micro-rods arranged in horizontally spaced vertical planes for supporting the forward edge of said top slice lip, s'aid micro-rods being movable in said vertical planes upon rotation thereof to raise and lower portions of said top lip connected thereto, each of said rods having a first miter gear mounted on its top end, and a bracket pivotally engaging said top slice lip at its other end, a rotatably mounted cross-shaft disposed transverse to the upper ends of said micro-rods, a plurality of spaced apart second miter gears mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, each of said second miter gears being axially slidable along said shaft and positioned adjacent an associated said first miter gear, means for individually sliding selected said second miter gears into and out of meshing engagement with their associated said first miter gears, and means for rotating said cross-shaft and said second miter gears thereon so that when selected of said first and second miter gears are in meshing engagement said first miter gears will be caused to rotate its micro-rod and move said top lip slice.

2, The headbox slice of claim 1 in which the means for sliding said second miter gears along said shaft are air cylinders.

3. The headbox slice of claim 1 in which the means for rotating said cross-shaft is an electric motor controlled from a remote location.

4. The headbox slice of claim 3 further comprising a position sensor for each micro-rod for indicating to said remote location the relative position of each micro-rod.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,167,470 1/1965 Moore 162-347 S. LEON BASHORE, Primary Examiner T. G. FERRIS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. l62259 

